Bruno Guimaraes remains at the center of another major Newcastle United transfer saga following those of the already-departed Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.
According to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, in an interview with football.london, Arsenal could land Bruno for a bid worth around £65 million, roughly €76 million, as Ryder believes that’d be enough to push Newcastle toward serious talks.
“And now it’s about whether they can come back with more,” Ryder said about Arsenal’s initial verbal offer worth
£45 million. “We’re told £65 million could be the tipping point, could be some kind of verbal agreement between Bruno and his people. And if Arsenal do turn that into an official bid, then the wheels might start moving on it.”
Arsenal has already tested Newcastle with an initial offer that didn’t reach quite a formal bid, but the Magpies swiftly rejected it as the club insisted the captain is not for sale.
Obviously, Newcastle still views Bruno as one of Eddie Howe’s most important players, but his contract situation is becoming a factor and with the bids getting higher by the day, it’s reasonable to think an exit might be right around the corner. The Brazil international has two years left on his current deal, and no extension has been agreed to date, although there are rumors of NUFC working on a monster £40 contract for Bruno.
For now, Bruno is focused on Brazil’s World Cup campaign, but Arsenal is still monitoring the situation and speaking with people close to the player in order to accelerate the deal ahead of next season.
The report follows previous claims from Ryder that Newcastle is braced for Arsenal contact and fears Bruno’s head could be turned after a difficult summer.
“Newcastle United remain braced for contact from Arsenal on their club captain Bruno Guimaraes – with the player’s every move in the United States being followed by his agent Alexis Malavolta,” Ryder wrote. “While Arsenal have not bid for Bruno yet, they have been told the terms of the deal and what it will probably take to snatch the ex-Lyon star from the Magpies.”
Newcastle’s public stance has not changed, but after Gordon and Tonali’s sales, a single serious Arsenal offer could remove three starters from the XI in a span of three weeks since the window opened mid-June.
